Principles And Maxims Of Successful Teaching

Teaching – learning process has occupied an important place in the field of education . Teaching and learning are two fundamental aspects of educational process . Both are closely related to each other . One cannot be divorced from the other . The most important objective of teaching is to facilitate learning . Thus the concept of teaching is incomplete without learning . For understanding the teaching-learning process it is essential to study the nature of teaching .

Nature of Teaching

Traditional Concept :
Teaching is the act of imparting instructions to the learners in the class-room teaching . In traditional class-room teaching the teacher just gives information about the concept , but this traditional concept of teaching is not acceptable to the modern educators . Now teaching is not merely imparting knowledge of imparting information to the students . While imparting knowledge teacher should keep in mind the child as well as the orderly presentation of subject-matter.
Modern Concept :
Teaching is to cause the child to learn and acquire the desired knowledge , skills also desirable ways of living in the society . It is process in which the learner , teacher , curriculum and other variables are organised in a systematic and psychological way to attain some pre-determined goals .

General Principles of Successful Teaching

Principle of Definite Aim : Teaching should start with a definite aim . In the absence of the definite aim the teacher might go astray and at the same time his teaching might lack coherence and definiteness . The students do not gain much if the lesson is planned haphazardly and aimlessly . Without definite aim , even the best lesson would fail to achieve its objective . Definite aim is of great help to both the teacher and the taught . It makes the teaching and learning interesting , effective , precise and definite .
Principle of Activity : Teaching is ineffective if the students do not actively participate in the lesson . Learning becomes active and quicker if the student is made active physically as well as mentally . Teaching can be facilitated if the students actively participate in the learning process and learn while actually manipulating the things to be learnt . Children learn their best through self-activity but that activity must be psychologically sound . Learning by doing removes the dullness of the lessons and puts the children in life situations . The child engages himself fully in the activity and learns qualitatively as well as quantitatively . Only that knowledge becomes a part of the life , which he gains through self – activity . Hence teaching should be organised as to provide the maximum opportunities to the child to learn by doing .
Principle of Motivation or Interest : Principle of motivation is considered very important to carry out successful teaching – learning process . It is said that half the battle is won if the students are truly motivated for the lesson . Motivation is the petrol that drives the mental engine . Motivation not only promotes but also facilitates learning . It arouses the interest of child and once he is genuinely interested , he becomes attentive , and consequently learning becomes effective . Hence teacher should properly motivate the students by creating interesting learning situations .
Principle of Co-operation : Successful teaching is a co-operative affair between the teacher and the students . If there is no co-operation, there may not be good teaching . Hence a teacher should plan his teaching to give the pupils abundant opportunity for co-operation in organisation , management , participation in discussion , and other class-room activities .
Principle of Creativity and Recreation : Successful teaching is a source of happiness to the teacher and the taught as well . Work becomes its own reward for the teacher , and the students enjoy it to the maximum . Teaching is not to be continued as a routine affair It should arouse the creativeness in the children . Successful teaching proves to be a source of creativeness and recreation . It awakens in the learners the desire to be creative and engages them in activity which is a source of pleasure to them .
Principle of Suggestiveness : Good teaching proceeds on the basis of suggestion rather than dictation . Th military spirit is not advantageous for well conducted class-room . The teacher suggests activities , materials and modes of responses . Suggestion helps in securing co-operation of pupils . Good teachers do not give order , they give suggestions , the students obey it . Hence in good teaching a teacher gives his suggestions to the students for doing a thing or not doing a thing .
Principle of Progressiveness : Teaching should be progressive . A good teacher is concerned with the progress of the children in the development of attitudes and interests , ideas and information , skills and abilities and development of habits of thoughts and action . Good teacher looks for the improvement . Progress in method and technique should find place in good teaching . Good teaching looks forward for improvement in the light of new experiments in the field of teaching . When teaching improves steadily , it is progressive .